post it

Save the last bite

What is the toughest part of a postman’s job' Not travelling long distances to deliver the post, if that’s what you thought. The nightmarish bit is ringing the doorbell of a house which has a ferocious dog in it. Realising this occupational hazard, the German postal department has started training its postmen in matters of canine psychology ' which means a crash course in how to avoid getting bitten. The programme has shown instant results. Over Christmas, canine attacks on postmen in Germany were the lowest in the last 10 years. The training, which involved animal psychologists and dog trainers, focussed on the theoretical and practical aspects of handling dogs ' from reading dog expressions to handing the post to people when they are walking their dogs in the open. The German postal department has sent over 80,000 of its postmen and women on the training programme.

bad move

Unlucky looters

Germany is not just about smart postmen, it’s also about stupid bandits. In the German city of Gronau, armed robbers recently held up a courier service vehicle carrying money, shot at it, forced the door open ' and made off with the first-aid kit, mistaking it for the suitcase full of money. The robbers have gone into hiding of course ' maybe the embarrassment is too much to bear.